This looks like it will be a very interesting mod, but it definitely needs work. Hate to be the one to add yet another suggestion for civ names, but here goes:
We have five "cultural groups" to work with, so we need five (or less) categories of religions. I would suggest:
Eastern religions
Pagan religions
Christian religions
Middle Eastern religions
Modern religions
Under each category, I would place the following religions:
Eastern:
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Taoism
- Jainism
- Confucianism*
Pagan:
- Norse/Germanic myth
- Greek/Roman myth
- Druidism
- Shinto
- Animism
- Mesoamerican myth
- Egyptian myth
Christian:
- Catholicism
- Lutheranism**
- Calvinism**
- Eastern Orthodox
- Mormonism*!
Middle Eastern:
- Judaism*@
- Sunni Islam
- Shia Islam
- Sufism
- Zoroastrianism
Modern:
- Wicca*#
- Scientology
- Raelism
The following can be the barbarian tribes:
- Atheists
- Nihilists
- Secular Humanists
- Existentialists
- Satanists
- Agnostics
- Infidels
- Communists
* Confucianism is not technically a religion, but since it dominated the Chinese way of life in a religious way, I would include it.
** Lutheranism and Calvinism represent the two main branches of Protestantism.
*! "Mormonism" is much shorter as a Civ name than "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints".
*@ Judaism has branches, but they are not different enough in my opinion that they would have different traits in Civ; thus, they are lumped together under one heading.
*# Wiccans might object and say Wicca should be included under Paganism; but the Paganism category is being used for ancient, "extinct" religions, whereas Wicca is a modern eclectic construction loosely based on what little information we actually have about the "old religions".
As for the Barbarian tribes, they are all non-theists of one stripe or another. I think this puts a humorous twist on the game, as you'll get messages like "We have disturbed an angry Existentialist Warrior". Except for Communists, of course, which are not necessarily nonreligious, but after the McCarthy era assuming so makes them hilarious.
I myself happen to be atheist, and a game structured in this way would provide hours on end of side-splitting laughter.
Now, one also would have to research these religions a bit to decide what their traits and unique units ought to be. I'm sure everyone would like to claim that their own religion is Religious and not Militaristic or Expansionist, but we must look to history here and be honest. If possible, the Religious civ trait ought to be changed to Zealous, and then given only to those religions where it applies.
Also, we'll be in need of new governments. Here are some names I've come up with thus far:
- Discipleship
- Hermitage
- Caliphate
- Papacy
- Monasticism
- Priestly Council
- Universal Ministry
- Democracy
Not sure what the stats should be for all of these but here is a brief description of their "character":
Discipleship: A single "prophet" figure has amassed a small following, and exercises reasonable control over them due to their zeal over the "new religion" he preaches. Should be an early gov't.
Hermitage: For those sages/saints living alone in the woods. Should encourage cities to be small in size, like Feudalism.
Caliphate: Single Caliph exercises absolute control over both state and religion.
Papacy: High priest and heirarchy of lower clergy exercise reasonable control over populace; secular governors may exist to meet nonreligious needs.
Monasticism: The religious convene in monasteries to learn and practice their faith. Abbots/masters have decent control over them, but there is more emphasis on learning rather than submission.
Priestly Council: A religious oligarchy where power rests with a council of priests rather than just one. People have more freedom as a result.
Universal Ministry: Every member of the Church is equally qualified to speak to God, to preach, and to evangelize. Extended civil liberties result in something not unlike the Republic in terms of stats.
Democracy: As it is currently.
It would be cool if each government had a government-specific small wonder associated with it. Governments are listed in the approximate order I think they ought to appear in the tech tree. Democracy should not be pushed to the very end, though; it should be somewhere towards the beginning of the Modern era (not at the beginning of the Modern era, but in the first third).
Any other governments/civs that anybody can come up with?
